CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Fifty-seven films from across the country, all with an Iowa connection, were screened at the 2024 Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival (CRIFF) last month with Quad Cities filmmaker Matthew Chezum among the winners.
Mr. Chezum, an Augustana College film student, won the Student Audience Choice Eddy Award for his film “S’mores.” The New Windsor, Illinois, man is among the first students in Augustana’s new film major now being offered under the Rock Island-based college’s newly renamed Department of Theatre and Film.
The Cedar Rapids festival was held Friday to Sunday, April 5-7 at the Collins Road Theatres, in Marion. The Eddy Awards Ceremony was presented by Farmers State Bank on Saturday night. For full list of award winners, visit here.
In addition to the Eddy Awards, the CRIFF Iowa Filmmaking Impact Award was introduced this year and presented to those individuals and organizations who have made a significant contribution to filmmaking with Iowa Connections or the festival.
The first Impact Award went to Bruce Taylor and Collins Road Theatres for supporting CRIFF, awarding thousands of dollars in scholarships, and being the festival’s host venue for 20 years.
In addition, Craig Schaefer, Loras College’s professor of media studies, was presented an Impact Award for his indelible impact on this festival since 2003. He has been directly or indirectly involved in 46 entries and 41 official selections, including five this year, and numerous Eddy Awards. Additionally, Mr. Schaefer has mentored hundreds and continues to mentor young filmmakers, building the creative community of the future.
The Eddy Awards are named after Thomas Alva Edison who, among his many other pursuits, was a pioneer in motion picture technology. The term eddy is also defined as “a current moving contrary to the direction of the main current,” which is a suitable description for independent filmmakers, who often go against the current trends in mainstream cinema.
The Cedar Rapids Independent Film Festival’s mission is to encourage independent filmmakers with Iowa ties to continue improving their craft, to provide a place to specifically showcase their films, present a unique cultural event to the community, and to offer networking opportunities to build connections between Iowa-connected filmmakers everywhere.
In addition to Collins Road Theatres and Farmers State Bank, CRIFF is supported by the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation, ProduceIowa, Wired Production Group, ImOn Communications, Sweetopia Emporium, Uptown Coffee Co., Adobe Express and R&D Events.
For more information, visit crifm.org. Information can also be found on the festival’s Facebook page and other social media platforms. Email CRIFF at info@crifm.org.
